This article is part of our Testimonial Video Series, where we highlight the firsthand experiences of business leaders who have chosen Puerto Rico to build and scale their companies.

Puerto Rico has been a leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing for decades, supplying life-saving medicines to the world. The island is home to some of the biggest names in the pharmaceutical industry, producing a significant share of the global supply of critical drugs. Thanks to companies like CytoImmune Therapeutics, Puerto Rico is building on this legacy and emerging as a global hub for biotechnology and cell therapy innovation. With a deep talent pool, cutting-edge research institutions, and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the island is attracting companies that are revolutionizing medicine and expanding the possibilities of modern healthcare.

In our conversation with José Eduardo Vidal, CEO of CytoImmune, he shared why Puerto Rico is the perfect place for biotech advancement, how his company is developing cutting-edge cancer treatments, and why the island’s ecosystem is uniquely positioned to support the next wave of medical breakthroughs.

From Global Biotech to Leading Innovation in Puerto Rico

Jose Vidal’s career in biotechnology spans decades, beginning with a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology and an early role in pioneering biotech drug development. His journey has taken him through some of the world’s top pharmaceutical and biotechnology hubs, including Boston, North Carolina, and California, where he co-founded a startup focused on cutting-edge immune therapies.

Despite finding success in these ecosystems, Vidal was drawn back to Puerto Rico, his homeland, recognizing the island’s unique potential for biotech innovation. He saw an opportunity to merge his deep expertise with Puerto Rico’s long-standing pharmaceutical infrastructure to create a globally competitive biotech company. This led to the founding of CytoImmune Therapeutics, a company dedicated to advancing next-generation cell therapies that target cancer and autoimmune diseases.

“We’re working with natural killer cells derived from umbilical cord blood, engineering them to target cancer and autoimmune diseases faster and more scalable than traditional therapies,” Vidal explains.

Unlike conventional personalized cancer treatments, which can take weeks to produce, CytoImmune’s therapies can be delivered within 24 to 72 hours—a potential game-changer for patients in critical need.

Why Puerto Rico? A Strategic Home for Biotech Innovation

For Vidal, returning to Puerto Rico to launch CytoImmune was not just a personal decision but a strategic one.

“Puerto Ricans love living in Puerto Rico. No matter where we go, we always dream of coming back,” he says. “But beyond the lifestyle, Puerto Rico has world-class talent, a regulatory environment built for biotech, and incentives that allow our investment to go further.”

Some of the key reasons why Puerto Rico is the perfect home for biotech innovation include:

• Unmatched Biopharma Expertise – With over 70 years of pharmaceutical manufacturing experience, Puerto Rico has built a workforce of highly skilled scientists, engineers, and regulatory experts.
• Strong Research & Academic Collaborations – Puerto Rico is home to a robust network of research institutions and universities that drive innovation in the biotech sector. The University of Puerto Rico Molecular Science Research Center, along with institutions like Ponce Health Sciences University and the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust, plays a key role in advancing biotech research and workforce development.
• Competitive Biotech Tax Incentives – Puerto Rico offers up to 50 percent tax credits for R&D activities, allowing companies to offset research costs and reinvest in clinical advancements. Additionally, the 4 percent corporate tax rate for eligible businesses ensures that companies can scale efficiently while keeping operational costs low.
• Advanced Infrastructure & Global Reach – “Puerto Rico has everything we need—FDA-compliant facilities, cold chain logistics, and access to both U.S. and Latin American markets,” says Vidal. The island’s well-developed pharmaceutical supply chain ensures biotech companies access to specialized raw materials, manufacturing capabilities, and global distribution networks. With direct shipping routes and air freight connections, Puerto Rico serves as a critical node for life sciences exports, enabling companies to move products efficiently while maintaining strict regulatory compliance. The island’s established cold chain logistics infrastructure also supports the safe storage and transport of sensitive biologics and cell therapies, reinforcing its reputation as a reliable biotech hub.

Driving Innovation and Collaboration

Puerto Rico is becoming a leader in cell therapy advancements, with companies like CytoImmune investing in large-scale bioreactors and innovative production technologies that enhance efficiency and accessibility in cancer treatment and regenerative medicine.

 The island’s universities and research institutions are preparing the next generation of biotech professionals, offering specialized programs in molecular biology, biomedical sciences, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Biosciences companies benefit from a highly skilled workforce trained in cutting-edge research and clinical applications.

Puerto Rico’s biotech sector is built on collaboration. Companies, universities, and research institutions collaborate to advance scientific breakthroughs, develop novel therapies, and attract investment from global partners. This culture of knowledge-sharing and mentorship fosters an environment where new ideas can flourish and innovative treatments can reach patients faster.

“We don’t compete here. We collaborate,” says Vidal. “We offer our learnings to others because building a strong biotech industry benefits all of us.”

A Message to Biotech Leaders: Come See for Yourself

For biotech CEOs considering expansion, Vidal has one clear recommendation:

“Come visit us. You need to see it firsthand. Every time an investor or executive walks through our lab, they tell me, ‘I never imagined you had this here.’ Puerto Rico is fully capable of delivering cutting-edge biotech innovation. We just need to change the perception.”

Puerto Rico is positioning itself as the next major hub for life sciences innovation with a thriving biopharma legacy, a growing biotech ecosystem, and world-class investment incentives.

Are you ready to explore Puerto Rico’s biotech potential? Contact Invest Puerto Rico today to learn how your company can be part of this growing industry.